Writer’s Workshop: One pet peeve that shouldn’t drive you crazy… but does!

There are many pet peeves which annoy me. I know they shouldn’t but they do. The reason they annoy me? Well… you see… um… I kind of do some of them myself.

There, I said it. I think the reason most of us have certain pet peeves is because we are guilty of doing these things as well. Since I couldn’t talk about just one in particular, I will talk about my top 5.

Talk OVER someone.

I think this is one of the RUDEST things one person can do to another. A conversation works in a very easy and basic way.

You talk a little and then stop.

Then you let the other person talk and listen to them.

When they stop you talk in response to their statements.

Repeat Step A.

I think when you talk over someone, that you are basically saying “What you are saying is boring and not as important as what I have to say!” I think part of it is that in this day and age, we are in a RUSH! When someone says something we don’t like or agree with we have to get our point across as QUICKLY as we can. We have lost respect for each other and cannot just simply be adults and wait for the person to say their side and then state our side.

I catch myself doing this sometimes. When I do, I stop and apologize and then let the other person talk. But when another party talks over, then it opens the flood gate and then both people are doing it and then NOONE hears what the other person said.

SO… DON’T DO IT!

Acronyms.

It doesn’t take that long to actually SAY a few words instead of making it all into an acronym. OMG, LOL, WTH! It really doesn’t take so much from our life that you cant actually laugh or say “Oh my goodness!” Originally all the acronym shorthand started online. People could not type well or fast or they didn’t want prying eyes to see what they were typing so they shortened it to acronyms.

It took off with slight differences on cell phones in Europe because a call cost so much that they would just send text messages to save on money and then we started texting like crazy here. This was, of course, before cell phones were so complicated that you had to hit the number “7” four times to achieve typing a letter “s”.

On those phones I understand typing “How Are you doing?” as “How R U doing?” Most cells have a full keyboard and most carriers have unlimited texting so… IT’S THE 21st Century People!! Learn how to SPELL things OUT!!!

This is something I do NOT do. I always spell things out… that is why I have a phone with a full keyboard!

People who drive WAY too slow!!

When you are driving on the roads, there are these new things… they just invented them! They are call SPEED LIMITS! Use them.

When you are on a road marked 40 and you drive 25…. This is a time when I wish I was allowed to ram you until you go the limit. This is even MORE annoying when you are on a 65 mph highway and you get in the FAST lane and drive 45. WHAT!?!?!? If you want to drive miss daisy… at least drive her on the right so we don’t have to deal with your slowness.

I also do NOT do this either.

Talking on a cell phone ON SPEAKER PHONE!

I work in an Emergency Room. We allow people to use their cell phones on the floor but I always tell them the same thing, no speaker phones and try to keep your voice down a little.

I do not want to listen to your entire conversation so I am sure othes feel the same. In fact, when you have a conversation – in public – on speakerphone, you are inviting me to join in your conversation. I can and HAVE jumped into other peoples speakerphone conversation to prove my point. It is really odd how they have no problem letting everyone hear their conversation when you don’t say anything (but of course you are listening) but change their tune when you start commenting on why sally’s boyfriend hasn’t returned her calls.

Unsolicited advice is not usually welcome… but the speakerphone turns off very quickly. J

I do NOT talk on a speakerphone.

People who ask for advice but then do the exact opposite!

When you ask for advice, take it. Most of the time its better then your thoughts because they are not emotionally involved in the situatin so they can see things differently. Usually more clear than you can. And when you ask for advice, then do exactly the opposite of it… don’t act surprised when this happens on multiple occasions that they stop giving advice to you. You can only advise the stupid so far.

When you are a friend, and you are in an abusive relationship with a person… the smart thing for EVERYONE is to walk away. Especially when you can! Like when you are not married, not living together, the person has a good friend base… its easy so walk!

If you decide to stay when you have it easy to walk… don’t ask me again and again what to do because people become annoyed at stupidity easily.

I don’t usually do the opposite, but I will tell the person if I agree with their advice or disagree with it ahead of time.

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9 Responses

Speakerphone – ARRGH!! Yes, I HATE that, and not just on cell phones. I used to work with a woman who put everyone who called her on speakerphone when they called her office number, no matter who was in the office with her. Never knowing who I was speaking in front of when I called her made me crazy, and I always cringed if her phone rang while I was in her office, because the person calling never had any idea they weren’t having a private conversation. Unbelievably rude.

My husband is into the speakerphone now since he returned from Afghanistan. And I, too, have chimed in on his conversations to make a point (which he doesn’t get!) Apparently in the war zone he wants to be hands-free in the event of a roadside bomb. Good. I get it. You are now back in America. And stop ending our calls with the phrase “out.” As in “over and out.” “Love you” would work better. 😉

unfortunately, I have to admit that sometimes I talk over people… but its usually my brother, sister or wife because they can’t wait 5 seconds to hear what i am about to say before they make their comments! LOL. One time my mom did that and I refused to say what i was going to. She was not happy about it and I told her that if she had waited a few seconds I would have been done, she would know what i was going to say and we wouldn’t be arguing about it! Well, that was the last time she talked over me! LOL

I agree with so many of your pet peeves…especially #1. In a world that IS so rushed people are forgetting how vital it is for each of us to be heard. If I find myself talking over someone, I always try to take a deep breath and refocus. I may never have this moment back and I want to be the one who really listened to that person. Thanks for sharing…I’m stopping by from Mama Kat’s.
The photo on driving too slow made me LOL! (just seeing if you’re still paying attention) 🙂
Have a great day!

I especially agree with #1 and #2. My husband has a bad habit of talking over people. He’s done it to me, and I’ve pointed out how he does it while with his friends, but he doesn’t believe me. It drives me crazy!!!!

As for #2, I absolutely hate acronyms!!! But, I will admit to using two every once in a while. I’ve used LOL, but most of the time I prefer writing hahahaha. I’ve also used OMG, but I do write it out more often.